The Summer Capital of the Philippines attracts thousands of tourists all year round. While getting to Baguio has been made easier thanks to more convenient routes like the TPLEX (Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway, the latest Kennon Road accident shows us the easiest routes don’t always assure our safety.
A photo of a sports utility vehicle (SUV) crushed by a huge boulder has gone viral recently. According to an Inquirer report, a family of four was aboard the vehicle. PO2 Jefferson Cadap was driving while his wife Ginaly and was in the front seat with one of their kids on their lap, Zech, aged 2. Their eldest Xiehl, 4, was in the backseat when a boulder rolled down a mountain at around 11:15 a.m on the 17th of June on Kennon Road in Tuba, Benguet.
The boulder crushed the car, but miraculously all four of them survived.
However, the mom and her two kids sustained some minor injuries, specifically abrasions on the head. They were all brought to Pines City Doctors’ Hospital.
Kennon Road Accident Sheds Light on Important Road Safety Tips for Families
Planning a family road trip soon? Make sure you are aware of road safety tips to protect your family, especially during the rainy season. Aside from slippery roads, there is the added danger of landslides when driving up winding, mountain roads.
Here are safety reminders you should always remember:
Make sure your tires are properly inflated.
If your tires aren’t inflated enough, you’re at risk of sliding across puddles or hydroplaning, which means you can lose control of your car.
Ensure that your tires have sufficient tread.
During the rainy season, it’s safer to have tires have to have above 3mm of tread to be able to drive safely down wet roads.
Make sure new tires are in the back.
If you’re replacing tires, make sure the new ones are placed in the back. Why? Because it’s safer to lose your grip in front of the car, because you have more control this way and you’ll slide straight instead of spinning around.
Drive slowly! When roads are slippery, drive carefully.
It’s not just puddles you should watch out for. Long after the rain has let up, oil, grime can build up on roads, making it more difficult to brake. So even if you can’t see puddles, drive as cautiously as possible.
Keep your distance.
Maintaining a safe distance buys you time to swerve or brake in the event of an emergency. A good rule of thumb is to make sure you can still see the vehicle in front of the vehicle in front of you.
Be alert of your surroundings.
Take mental notes of the nearest escape routes and safe lines along your journey, so you can maintain presence of mind in the event of an accident.
Stay within the dry line.
They say water tends to pool on the right shoulder and leftmost lane, so make sure not to drive through puddles, deep tire ruts. Avoid straddling lanes, though, especially on blind corners.
Make sure your brakes stay dry.
If you have driven across a deep puddle, squeeze your brakes until you feel a “bit of resistance” to keep them dry. Do this carefully, though!
Even during the daytime, use running lights or low beams.
Doing this will help fellow motorists spot you easily. If you’re driving through a foggy road make sure your tail lights and fog lights are switched on as well.
Refrain from using high beams.
Turning your lights on high won’t really help you see clearly and it can only distract other drivers.
Use hazard lights appropriately.
Only use hazard lights when you need to inform other drivers that you cannot drive at the same flow and speed of traffic.
source: Rappler, Top Gear
Also READ: 8-year-old boy run over by SUV: Safety tips for parents living on busy roads
